REMARKS
Overview of existing workforce development programs in NYC's arts and cultural sector
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Council Member Carlina Rivera provides an overview of existing workforce development programs in NYC's arts and cultural sector. She highlights programs such as the cultural core, b side, roundabout, and SYEP, emphasizing the importance of paid internships and living wages.
- Rivera shares her personal experience of never taking unpaid internships due to financial constraints
- She emphasizes the need for paid opportunities in the expensive city of New York
- The importance of transferable skills developed in cultural institutions is mentioned
Carlina Rivera
0:26:14
Thank you so much.
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It was, it was comprehensive.
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20 minutes of testosterone.
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We love love for you.
0:26:22
Sure.
0:26:24
Alright.
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Well, I just wanna thank you for your work because I know, you know, you're you're a great New York City cheerleader, and you love the arts and cultural organizations in our city.
0:26:32
And I think, you know, the goal of of this hearing is to hear from so many of the amazing groups that you have mentioned, and then, of course, some some that you haven't.
0:26:40
Not not intentionally, but because there are so many across the 5 boroughs, and they're certainly deserving of, a chance to let us know the challenges that they're facing and how we can be of more assistance and support.
0:26:55
You mentioned some some great programs that we're certainly going to get into.
0:26:59
You mentioned the cultural core.
0:27:01
You mentioned, b side, roundabout.
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You know, with SYEP, which is the summer youth employment program, which is a great program, a 100,000 positions you mentioned last year.
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We have our cultural institutions and groups hosting around about 400, SYEP positions.
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You know, this is something I think we all wanna grow.
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We all wanna grow these positions, we wanna ensure that they're paid, and paid a living wage.
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I I don't know if I've ever admitted this, but I've I've never taken an unpaid internship.
0:27:36
I've just never felt like I was in the financial position in my own family, growing up very low income, that I could that I could work for no money.
0:27:45
I felt like I had to contribute to my household, and I had expenses, and so sometimes it was passing up an opportunity that I found interesting to wait tables.
0:27:54
You know?
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Right.
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Because I knew that that was cash.
UNKNOWN
0:27:56
Mhmm.
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And I
Carlina Rivera
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think a lot of people in New York City face that because of so many factors, including the fact that this is a very expensive city.
0:28:04
And everyone wants to live here though because it is indeed the greatest city in the world.